National Republican., 1887-01-26
Tho city sixteen Years Hence.

EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: notice,
some few days ago, bill offered by Mr.
Milligan in Congress for the purchase of
MIA avenue (south side) from Ninth to Fif-
teenth street. On the ID day Of March,
1889, discussed before MI. Neal, of Ohio,
then chairman OF the committee on the
District Of Columbia, the improvement Of
this city by not only purchasing the squares
named, but the entire property on the
south side Of the avenue within the bounda.
ries Of Pennsylvania avenue ana B street
south; also, the two squares from First to
Third street (north side) to B street north.
In the first place 1t would be necessary
to raise the avenue six feet at the capitol
gate, and level up to the present grade at
the treasury gate. This would elevate the
avenue above the tides, and give sufficient
fall for sewer running through the public
grounds in rear Of public buildings placed
along the avenue from the Presidents
house to James creek canal, and along side
grounds, and empty into the river above
tide. This arrangement would forever
prevent water from backing up into the
city, and throwing malaria Gnd disease
through almost every dwelling.
The buildings should then be built with
the floor of the cellar on line one foot
above the present level of the avenue, so as
at no time In the future to require any
change to carry off the water and other
matter which accumulates and goes into
sewers. All these grounds, at assessed
value, could be bought for "a, 500, 900; but,
assuming 81 $780, 600 for improvements made
OF late, would make the cost about
| $6,000.0O
then proposed on the south side from
the rear between Third aud Fifteenth
streets, and B street south, to make park
for the city. When this is graded and the
sewerage completed the ground would in
value, be more than what the government
would have to pay In time to come when
the buildings should be needed. and beside
there would be no necessity to limit q
building In depth as the land in rear could
| be used any distance without encroaching
| on the direct streets to the river.
further propose to extend from b to B
| north and west as far as Third street, the
| capitol grounds and form four terraces
| from Third street of equal height aud
depth, with trees placed twenty feet from
| edge Of each terrace with fountains, flow
| ers, shrubbery, and any other thing that
would add to the adornment Of the grounds;
drive from B TO B street of sufficient
width for three carriages abreast, the
main entrances to the capitol being on
Pennsylvania and Maryland avenues.
|
| and land would be about $16,000,000.
| What is this sum In comparison with
what this city is to be In the future, II its
citizens shall be true to the mission before
them In the past sixteen years, from
city Of mud and dust, 1t has been trans
formed into q paradise. Its streets and
avenues are the admiration Of citizens Of
the republic, as well as Of those who visit
1t from all lands beyond the sea.
| In siXtpen wears more most beautiful
villas and palatlal residences will rise along
| the banks of the Potomac, and what is now
barren and unfruitful soil will be bloom
ing with fruit and flowers, when the Ian
guild and careworn senator and member
can repair to recuperate their powers so
often spent in discussing the great prob
lens Of free government and study out
the great labor problem, which is now
agitating and will continue to demand
their attention for some time to come.
| The north side Of the avenue would be
made with but little expense to conform to
the beauty intended on the south side by
the removal OF old, dilapidated buildings
which long since should have been torn
down or improved. Besides, the parties on
the south side, with the means obtained for
their buildings, would purchase and erect
| such buildings as would be an
| ornament and make the avenue the most
beautiful in buildings as 1t is in street i'm
proVementb Jouaf. ineTe Woulu pe bono
few buildings above the avenue lines that
would be damaged, but many would meet
the demand of grade without injury. In
1868 built three stores on Pennsylvania
avenue, between Ninth and Tenth, looking
| to the raising Of the avenue In time, as at
that time the subject of raising 1t
was advocated. / made the stories
| eighteen feet, looking TO grade OF
four feet between Ninth and Tenth streets.
| Wby should Congress for n moment lesi-
tate in work so comprehensive, and which
would draw from the treasury yearly for It's
completion, and yet by extraordinary pre-
| paration and proper facilities the whole
work could be completed In two or three
years9 In the meantime all rentals would
cease, and the city postoillce and all build
ipgs needed could be preserved until the
public buildings are built. s. j. +.
| WAsHINGToN, Jan. 81, 1887.